Cooling To the Corps

After a decade of educational and aid work in Russian provinces, the U.S. Peace Corps seems no longer welcome in this country. Last week, the Russian government flatly refused to extend the visas of 30 of the 64 Peace Corps volunteers who were half-way through their two-year stints. Most of these 30 young people have already left. Plans for sending a new team of volunteers to Russia have been scrapped.

The decision came as an unpleasant surprise to many a Russian community where Peace Corps volunteers have been helpful. Nina Ivanyuk, director...